He was nominated 4 times for a Academy Award. He is mostly known for his role in Tom Jones and for his role as Edward Bloom in Big Fish. He won a Golden Globe Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, Emmy Award, and a BAFTA Award. He was also the voice of Finis Everglot in Tim Burton's Corpse Bride.

He was married to Jane Wenham from 1957 until they divorced in 1961. Then he was married to Anouk Aimée from 1970 until they divorced in 1978. He has been married to Pene Delmage since 2006. He has a son Simon by his first wife Jane Wenham. He currently lives in Los Angeles, California.